Saving Madagascar
Jennifer Naymick
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Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo.
Madagascar is located in the western Indian Ocean. If we flew from San Francisco to
Antanananarvio, the capital of Madagascar it would be 11,00 miles and 23 hours of flight time.
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Madagascar can be divided into five geographical regions: the east coast, the Tsaratanana
Massif in the north, the central highlands, the west coast, and the southwest.
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Madagascar is often called the "Great Red Island" because of its red soils, which are generally
poor for agriculture.
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Madagascar has some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Of roughly 200,000 known
species found on Madagascar, about 150,000 are endemic -- meaning they exist nowhere else.
Unique to the island are more than 50 types of lemurs, 99% of its frog species, and 36 genera of
birds. Madagascar houses 100% of the world's lemurs, half of its chameleon species, and 6% of
its frogs (though none of its toads).
Madagascar is home to as many as 12,000 plant species -- 70-80% of which are endemic -making it one of the most diverse floras on the planet.
 Madagascar is also home to a totally unique ecosystem -- one that is found nowhere else on
Earth. Found in the dry southwestern part of the island, the spiny forest is notable because
virtually every species of plant is covered with sharp spines. While these plants look a bit like
cactus, they are not related. About 95% of the species found in the Spiny Desert are endemic
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While Madagascar is known for its strange animals and beautiful forests, much of the
country has suffered severe environmental damage. Many of the island's rainforests have
been cut down while valuable topsoil important for growing crops disappears due to
erosion. Because Madagascar is among the world's poorest countries, people's day-to-day
survival is dependent upon natural resource use. Most Malagasy never have an option to
become a doctor, computer programmer, factory worker, or secretary; they must live off
the land that surrounds them, making use of whatever resources they can find. Their
poverty costs the country and the world through the loss of the island's endemic
biodiversity.
Madagascar's major environmental problems include:
Deforestation and habitat destruction
Agricultural fires
Erosion and soil degradation
Overexploitation of living resources including hunting and over-collection of species
from the wild
Introduction of alien species
Save Madagascar Instructions
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A ten minute video will be shown on Madagascar to introduce you to this area.
After the video, I will divide you into groups (three to four students) to research
various animal and plant life that are found on this island and also unique to
Madagascar.
There will be websites provided and you are able to find your own research
material on the Internet.
Your group will research the animal habitats and life expectancies of the
species.
Your group will need to research if there is anything being done to ensure the
species’ survival at this time.
If there is nothing being done, it is your job to create a plan to save the species.
Also, if there is a plan in place, how would you improve upon the current plan.
Your group will present your research to the class in a PowerPoint presentation.
Your presentation will include information about your animal and plant
species, your plan to save the species or improvement recommendations and
your overall research.
You can use images in your presentation.
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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/madagascar/madagascar.html
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http://www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife/animals.html
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http://www.animalinfo.org/country/madagasc.htm
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http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/caught/conservation/madagascar
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http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-miracle-in-madagascar-ndasha-blueprint-for-saving-species-807799.html
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http://www.lemurs.us/madagascar.html
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http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/creature3.htm
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http://home.planet.nl/~mkrame
http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/madagascar/ r/mada_en.htm
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http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/roberson.html
 http://www.wildmadagascar.org/flora/
 http://www.mapsofworld.com/madagascar/plants/
 http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20madagascar.htm
 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/science/jan-june08/madagascar_04-11.html
 http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography
_physical_environment.html
 http://www.wildmadagascar.org/conservation/threats.html
 http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Madagascar-ENVIRONMENT.html
 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355562/Madagascar/2
 http://www.hackingfamily.com/Flora_&_Fauna/Madagascar/MadFlora.htm
3456/Land
 http://www.photius.com/countries/madagascar/geography/madagascar_geography
_flora_and_fauna.html
Area
Madagascar is Saved!
Ten Points
Madagascar needs help!
Eight Points
Madagascar is in Serious
Danger!
Five Points
Participation
The student equally contributed
an equal amount to the group in
research and presenting
PowerPoint.
The student did not fully
contribute to the group in
research and presenting
PowerPoint presentation.
The student did not participate in
the research or PowerPoint
presentation.
Design
Very creative PowerPoint.
Did not include any unnecessary
graphics. Research material and
images had a nice balance and
flow.
The PowerPoint had a few
unnecessary graphics/images and
or a bit too much research
material. The flow and balance
could use improvement.
The design include either too
many images/graphics and or
research material. It was not
creative.
Grammar
Presentation contains no spelling
or punctuation errors. All
sentences are complete.
Presentation has some
incomplete sentences. There are
some punctuation and spelling
errors.
The presentation has many
incomplete sentences. There are
many punctuation and spelling
errors.
Content
The topic is covered thoroughly.
There is enough research to
provide a great understanding to
topic. The presentation does not
include any unnecessary material.
There is a need of more research
material in presentation. The
presentation has a few
unnecessary items.
There is not enough material in
presentation about the subject.
The presentation has a lot of
irrelevant material that does not
relate to the topic.
 A 40 points
 B 38-36 points
 C 35-34 points
 D 33-20 points
 *F 20-0 points
 *Students will be given an opportunity to rework their
presentation for half credit to be given to their original
grade.